MPAC presents the next entry in Emily Judd’s Pops Blog!
Many of you know of Michigan’s tradition of excellence in engineering and physics, but you may not know just how influential Michigan has been in the field of aerospace. As my first blog post on NASA topics to the Michigan Pops Orchestra alumni, I’d like to cover a little of our Michigan history in space, especially as it relates to NASA!
The University of Michigan started off the field of aeronautical engineering in the U.S., teaching the first American courses on the topic in 1914. By the 1950s, Michigan Engineering had worked on research involving captured German V-2 rockets from World War II, conducted experiments to study the upper atmosphere with the High Altitude Engineering Laboratory (HAEL) and the Space Physics Research Laboratory (SPRL), and trained Air Force officers in Pilotless Aircraft and Guided Missiles. With the formation of NASA in 1958, Michigan continued to forge ahead with space research, utilizing a 1963 NASA grant to build the Space Research Building (now the Climate and Space Research Building), which houses the Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering department (formerly Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences) and SPRL. Faculty got involved with NASA’s astronaut program right away, even teaching orbital mechanics to the first two astronaut groups! [1, 2]
Of course, students and alumni also got involved with the astronaut corps, and two NASA missions had all-Michigan crews! The first was for Gemini 4 in 1965; Edward H. White II (M.S. Aeronautical Engineering ’59) completed the first American spacewalk during the mission while orbiting the Earth, working with his co-pilot and commander, James A. McDivitt (B.S. Aeronautical Engineering ’59). The next all-Michigan mission was to the moon with Apollo 15 in 1971. James Irwin (M.S. Aeronautical Engineering and M.S. Instrumentation Engineering ’57) piloted the Lunar Module, which took commander David Scott (Mechanical Engineering, transferred to West Point) and him down to the surface of the moon. Alfred Worden (M.S. Aeronautical Engineering and M.S. Instrumentation Engineering ’63) piloted the Command Module and completed the first spacewalk outside of Earth orbit. The Apollo 15 crew also established the lunar branch of the UM alumni association by leaving a certificate on the Moon, which read, “The Alumni Association of The University of Michigan. Charter Number One. This is to certify that The University of Michigan Club of The Moon is a duly constituted unit of the Alumni Association and entitled to all the rights and privileges under the Association’s Constitution.” Artifacts from these and other space missions that Michigan participated in can be viewed in the atrium of the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) building on UM’s North Campus. [3, 4]
Fast forwarding, Michigan researchers have contributed to such missions as the Advanced Composition Satellite (ACE), a space weather satellite; Cassini, a spacecraft that studied Saturn and its moons; Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), an eight satellite constellation that looks at hurricanes; MESSENGER, a mission to Mercury; and many more. Researchers, including students, also use data collected by other missions to make new discoveries about processes and properties of the solar wind, planetary atmospheres, and a little closer to home, the northern lights, soil wetness, and glacier thicknesses. One of the most recent missions, Parker Solar Probe, is traveling the closest to the Sun we’ve ever been—and the fastest! This mission is allowing for more discoveries on how the Sun’s rotation and magnetic field impact the solar wind, which in turn, will influence space weather forecasting. This forecasting ability is important to be able to predict space weather events that could negatively affect Earth telecommunications systems or for astronauts traveling to the Moon or Mars! [2, 5]
For a particular example of how students at Michigan get involved with space research, I’d like to share my experience working with the Bioastronautics and Life Support Systems (BLiSS) student organization. Our group regularly takes on challenges proposed by NASA as part of the Exploration Habitat grants. For the 2018-2019 academic year, we studied how to include a medical workstation within a space habitat, either in a microgravity environment (such as in orbit around a planetary body or in transit to one) or on the surface of Mars. This project involved students from across the university, including aerospace and space systems engineers and pre-med scientists. We looked at the most commonly expected medical ailments for space and proposed what equipment would be needed to effectively treat astronauts in space, working around the issues of limited mass and volume for all the equipment. We ended our study by creating a model of the workstation in virtual reality, allowing us, and our NASA mentors, to experience what the workstation would look like. This allowed us to test out different storage methods and configurations so that astronauts of all heights would be able to effectively use the area safely. After receiving feedback from our medical advisors and NASA mentors, we presented our results to the wider aerospace community at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in October 2019.
In addition to all of the other space research, these types of student projects caught the attention of the NASA Administrator, Jim Bridenstine, who visited campus right after IAC. Current research in solar electric propulsion will be key in the upcoming Artemis missions, allowing for a sustainable presence on the Moon. College of Engineering dean, Alec Gallimore also discussed the University of Michigan Space Institute, a new initiative to bring together researchers from many disciplines (life and physical sciences, climate and space engineering, etc.) to all work on new ideas for space exploration. The administrator toured the BLiSS habitat mockup while the students explained the past few years of work and plans for the future. He rounded out his visit with another Michigan staple, a game in the Big House, where he led the marching band for the “Victors” after a space-themed half-time show, including appearances by past NASA astronauts with Michigan connections.In addition to all of the other space research, these types of student projects caught the attention of the NASA Administrator, Jim Bridenstine, who visited campus right after IAC. Current research in solar electric propulsion will be key in the upcoming Artemis missions, allowing for a sustainable presence on the Moon. College of Engineering dean, Alec Gallimore also discussed the University of Michigan Space Institute, a new initiative to bring together researchers from many disciplines (life and physical sciences, climate and space engineering, etc.) to all work on new ideas for space exploration. The administrator toured the BLiSS habitat mockup while the students explained the past few years of work and plans for the future. He rounded out his visit with another Michigan staple, a game in the Big House, where he led the marching band for the “Victors” after a space-themed half-time show, including appearances by past NASA astronauts with Michigan connections.
Overall, Michigan has a long-standing tradition of excellence in space research that is continuing with our current and future students. This work allows for partnering with NASA on unprecedented missions to study the unknowns in space and improve the understanding of our planet. With more and more involvement by commercial entities in the space industry, it will be exciting to see how both NASA and Michigan adapt to meet the technological needs and drive the forefront of scientific exploration.
1/1/20
Sources:
[1] Milgrom, R., “Wolverines in space: The all-Michigan astronaut crews,” The Michigan Engineer News Center, 24 Oct. 2016, accessed 18 Dec. 2019 [https://news.engin.umich.edu/2016/10/wolverines-in-space/].
[2] Whitehouse, B., ed., “The Michigan NASA connection,” The Michigan Engineer News Center, 20 Dec. 2016, accessed 18 Dec. 2019 [https://news.engin.umich.edu/2016/12/michigan-nasa-connection/].
[3] Walker, M., “Space race: Michigan’s ties to NASA, Apollo program,” Detroit Free Press, 19 Jul. 2019, accessed 18 Dec. 2019 [https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/07/18/space-race-michigan-nasa-apollo-program/1709403001/].
[4] Wisner, J., “University of Michigan Astronauts,” 12 Dec. 2001, accessed 18 Dec. 2019 [http://www.umich.edu/~hist265/links/projects/2001b/jwisner/astro.html].
[5] Lynch, J., “Parker Solar Probe: ‘We’re missing something fundamental about the sun’,” The Michigan Engineer News Center, 4 Dec. 2019, accessed 18 Dec. 2019 [https://news.engin.umich.edu/2019/12/were-missing-something-fundamental-about-the-sun/].
[6] Rahal, S., “NASA administrator: UM to play big role in space exploration,” The Detroit News, 27 Oct. 2019, accessed 18 Dec. 2019 [https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/10/26/um-play-big-role-space-exploration-nasa-administrator-says/2455855001/?fbclid=IwAR3LZ5CLHEutJBrlJPZaMgf15OHwq7mia5SjjanLaoMLl7MXOBEQg-nvufI].